Otumfuo Meets Prempeh Family

THERE WERE emotional scenes when the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, met descendants of King Prempeh I who are domiciled in Seychelles Island.

Friday’s historic meeting at the Palm Seychelles, a plush-looking area at Victoria, capital of Seychelles Island, ignited both joy and sad moments.

An emotionally filled Otumfuo was seen beaming with broad smiles as Mary Prempeh, granddaughter of King Prempeh I, and her four children paid homage to him.

They included Andrew, Dennis, Cherry and Suzy Prempeh. One after the other, they exchanged pleasantries with the Asante Monarch who was surrounded by some Asante chiefs.

At a point during the meeting, both the Asantehene and Mary Prempeh were looking morose as they reflected on the circumstances that brought King Prempeh I to Seychelles Island.

King Prempeh I lived in Seychelles Island for 24 years after he was exiled to that country on September 11, 1900 by the British who wanted to subdue the Asantes.

King Prempeh I and some Asante chiefs had earlier spent four years in exile in Sierra Leone. He returned to Ghana in 1924 but some of his descendants stayed back.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is in Seychelles Island at the invitation of the Seychelles Government as special guest of honour of the Carnival International de Victoria.

The Adontenhene, Nana Adu Gyamfi, introduced King Prempeh I’s descendants to Otumfuo and his entourage, attracting applause from the gathering.

Otumfuo said he was happy to have achieved his ambition of uniting with King Prempeh I’s descendants in Seychelles after many years of separation.

According to him, it had been his long cherished dream to visit Seychelles Island in order to know where his great uncle was sent to by the British 'through no fault of his.'

He promised to facilitate the visit of Mary Prempeh and her children to Kumasi soon to enable them to meet their other relatives in Ghana.

Otumfuo told Prempeh I’s descendants not to feel abandoned, stressing that 'You have a great family in Ghana and we will not abandon you.'

'You are part of us,' the King stated, adding that he would mark his 16 years on the Golden Stool with the Prempeh I family in Seychelles on Sunday.

The Asantehene concluded his emotional remarks by presenting copies of a video of the 80 years celebration of the Asante Confederacy to help the Prempeh I family learn Asante history.

Mary Prempeh said she felt so touched and proud to meet the Asantehene and other relatives of her grandfather, King Prempeh I.

Suzy Prempeh, 18, stated that she had heard a lot about the Asantes and the Asantehene and that she was so delighted to stand in the presence of the great King.

Andrew Prempeh, on his part, said even though they had been taught Asante history in school in Seychelles, he still wanted to learn more about the Asantes.

Manwerehene, Baafuor Ossei Hyeaman Brentuo VI; Akyempimhene, Oheneba Adusei Poku; Nana Owusu Afriyie, Apagyahene and Nana Atta Poku Agyeman, grand nephew of Otumfuo and other chiefs were present.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Seychelles Island